גְדֹר
Gedor, a place in Palestine; also the name of three Israelites
Definition
Gedor (גְדֹר) is a proper noun referring primarily to a town in the hill country of Judah, listed among the cities allotted to the tribe of Judah in Joshua 15:58. It also serves as a personal name for several individuals in the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles. As a place, Gedor was a fortified settlement, likely an 'inclosure' or walled village. As a personal name, it is borne by a descendant of Judah (1 Chronicles 4:4), a son of Jeiel from Gibeon (1 Chronicles 8:31; 9:37), and a Gadite warrior who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chronicles 12:7).
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively in geographical and genealogical contexts. It appears seven times in the Old Testament: once in Joshua as a Judahite city, and six times in 1 Chronicles within tribal genealogies (1 Chronicles 4:4, 4:18, 4:39, 8:31, 9:37, 12:7). Its usage consistently identifies either a specific location in Judah or individuals within the lineage of Judah, Benjamin, and Gad, highlighting its role in anchoring family and tribal identity to a place.
Etymology
The name Gedor derives from the Hebrew root גָּדַר (gādar, H1443), meaning 'to wall up,' 'to fence in,' or 'to enclose.' It is related to the noun גָּדֵר (gādēr), meaning 'a wall' or 'fence.' The name, whether for a place or person, likely signifies 'enclosure' or 'fortification,' reflecting the nature of the town as a walled settlement for protection.
Semantic Range
While Gedor itself is not a theologically loaded term, its presence in tribal allotments and genealogies underscores the biblical theme of God's faithfulness in providing an inheritance to His people (Joshua 15:58) and preserving the lineage through which His promises flow. Understanding it as a 'fortified place' can symbolically point to God as a protective enclosure for His people.
In the ancient Near East, place names often described a location's physical characteristic or function. Gedor, meaning 'enclosure,' likely described a settlement fortified with a wall or hedge, a common feature for security in the hill country. As a personal name, it may have been given to signify strength or protection, reflecting parental hopes or the circumstances of birth.
None directly applicable as synonyms for a proper name. Related concept: גָּדֵר (gādēr, H1447) — a common noun meaning 'wall' or 'fence,' from the same root.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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